Circuit interrupter construction



May 23, 1961 J. J. MIKOS 2,935,737.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

'May 23, 1961' J. J. MIKOS 2,985,737

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1961 J. J. MIKOS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

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INVENTOR. John J fli/wfi,

May 23, 1961 J. .1. MIKOS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 III 5/ W w John J Z kO May 23, 1961 J. J. MIKOS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 United States Patent CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION John J. Mikos, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to S & C

Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser- No. 841,163

Claims. (Cl. 200-114) This invention relates, generally, to circuit interrupters and it has particular relation to portable vacuum type circuit interrupters for use in opening high voltage circuits by manipulation of a live line stick. It constitutes an improvement over the circuit interrupter construction disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,816,981, issued December 17, 1957.

Among the objects of this invention are: To substitute a vacuum type of circuit interrupter requiring relatively short separation of its contacts for circuit interruption for the air type of circuit interrupter used heretofore and requiring relatively great separation of its contacts for circuit interruption; to provide a relatively long air gap between two energized circuits that is shunted by normally closed contacts of a vacuum type circuit interrupter and then to open the shunt by separating the contacts a relatively short distance and thereby disconnect the circuits; to provide relatively fixed and movable conducting members for connection to energized parts of a circuit with the movable conducting member carried by a live line stick together with a vacuum switch having separable contacts connected to the conducting members and arranged to be opened after movement apart thereof to a predetermined extent; to latch the contacts in closed position and to release the latch to open them when the movable conducting member has been moved to a predetermined position away from the fixed conducting member; to permit a spring stressed by such movement of the movable conducting member to overcome the force applied by atmospheric pressure holding the contacts closed When the latch is released for opening the contacts; to hold the movable conducting members and the contacts in separated relation after the circuit opening operation has been performed; and to open the contacts of the vacuum switch against the force of the atmospheric pressure holding them closed as the result of the final movement of the movable conducting member away from the fixed conducting member.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a circuit isolating device, such as a disconnecting fuse, showing how the auxiliary circuit interrupter of the present invention can be applied thereto, the particular circuit isolating device being that disclosed in Patent No. 2,745,921, issued May 15, 1956; I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the auxiliary circuit interrupter employed in connection with the "ice 2 circuit isolating device shown in Figure 1 for etfecting the final opening of the circuit;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 4 -4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a View, similar to Figure 4, showing the latch which holds the contacts of the vacuum switch closed in the unlatched position;

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 2, but showing the movable conducting member carried by the live line stick in the position that it occupies after the circuit isolating device has been operated to provide the necessary air gap in the circuit which is still shunted through the contacts of the vacuum switch;

Figure 8 is a view, similar to Figure 7, but showing the final position of the movable conducting member after it has effected the opening of the contacts of the vacuum switch through the required distance necessary to interrupt the shunt circuit;

Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of construction for the separation of the contacts of the vacuum switch;

Figure 10 is a view of the modified construction shown in Figure 9 with the positions of the parts as described for Figure 7; and

Figure 11 is another view of the modified construction shown in Figure 9 with the parts positioned as indicated for Figure 8. i

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a circuit isolating device of the disconnecting fuse type the details of construction of which are shown in Patent No. 2,745,921, issued May 15, 1956. Accordingly, only a general description of the circuit isolating device 10 will be set forth here. While particular reference is made to a disconnecting fuse device, it will be understood that the present invention can be employed where the fuse tube of the disconnecting fuse is replaced by a metallic conducting tube or it can be used in conjunction With a disconnecting switch that is suitably modified for use in conjunction with the auxiliary circuit interrupter mounted on a live line stick as described hereinafter.

The circuit isolating device or disconnecting fuse 10 includes an insulator 11 which is arranged to be stationarily mounted on a cross armor the like and has a lower terminal contact member 12 carrying a connector 13 for connection to a line terminal. Pivoted at 14 on the lower contact member 12 is a lower current carrying member 15 that is positioned at the lower end of a fuse tube 16. At its upper end the fuse tube 16 hasan upper current carrying member 17 which is positioned in contact engagement with a normally energized contact member 18 carried by the upper end of the insulator 11. In order to remove the upper current carrying member 17 from contact engagement with the terminal contact member 18, the former is provided with an eye or pull ring 19 of conducting material for receiving the prong of a live line tool. In accordance with conventional practice, the fuse tube 16 is manipulated by inserting the prong of the live line tool in the eye or pull ring 19 for swinging the upper current carrying member 17 into or out of contact engagement with the terminal contact member 18. For the purposes more fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,745,921, issued May 15, 1956, the terminal contact member 18 includes an L-shaped reinforcing bar 20 having a downwardly extending arm 21 which carries a guide 22. The guide 22 is employed, in part, for guiding the upper current carrying member 17 into proper cbnvice while it is carrying line current.

tact engagement with the terminal contact member 18. The guide 22 includes forwardly extending arms 23 at the outer ends of which are transversely extending horns .or studs 24. Provision is made for connecting the energized line conductor to the terminal contact member 18 through a terminal pad 25. It will be understood that the upper portion of the terminal pad 25 (not shown) carries a connector or the like device to facilitate condrawn between the upper current carrying member 17 and the terminal contact member 18 which is likely to damage the parts which are contacted by the arc and also, where other circuits are involved, is likely to fault one or more circuits in the event that the arc is drawn and should jump to another circuit or to ground. Also, there is the likelihood of injury to the operator. In accordance with the present invention provision is made for safely and expeditiously opening the circuit isolating de- It is for this purpose that an auxiliary circuit interrupter, shown generally at 27, is employed. The auxiliary circuit interrupter 27 disclosed herein is generally similar to the auxiliary circuit interrupter disclosed inPatent No. 2,816,981,

issued December 17, 1957. However, that auxiliary circuit interrupter is provided with contacts forming the shunt circuit between the upper current carrying member 17011 the fuse tube 16 and the contact member 18 which are separable in air and thus must be separated under such conditions through a relatively great distance in order to establish the necessary gap over which the circuit cannot be reestablished. In accordance with the present invention a vacuum switch is employed that is provided with contacts which are required to be separarated only a relatively short distance to provide the necessary isolating gap in the shunt circuit.

It will be observed that the auxiliary circuit interrupter 27 is provided near'its upper end with an eye member or pull ring that is shown generally at 28. The eye member or pull ring 28 includes a bow shaped contact member 29 which has oppositely extending trunnions 30, Figure 2, that are rockably mounted by parallel end portions 31 of the pair of arms 32 that are formed in 'tegrally with and extend radially from a pull ring end cap 33. It will be understood that the bow shaped contact member 29, as shown in Figure 1, is intended to be positioned over one of the horns or studs 24 for connection to the normally energized terminal contact member 18 of the circuit isolating device 10. In addition, this connection is both an electrical and a mechanical connection and serves as an anchor for resisting an endwise pull applied to the auxiliary circuit interrupter 27, in a manner to be described, not only for operating the fuse tube 16 to the open position but also for subsequently operating the auxiliary circuit interrupter 27 to interrupt the flow of load current therethrough without causing an unconfined arc. Connection to the upper current carrying member 17 on the fuse tube 16 is provided by contact means 34 in the form of a pin or prong that is carried by a support member 35 in the form of a strut, preferablyformed of aluminum alloy, on which the auxiliary circuit interupter 27 is flexibly mounted by a universal joint that is indicated, generally at 36, and described in detail in Patent No. 2,816,981, issued December 17, 1957. The support member or strut 35 has an integral extension 37 provided with a claw bracket 38 that can be secured by a clamp screw 39 to a similar claw bracket 40 which is formed integrally with a fitting 41 that is aranged to be carried by one end of a liveline stick a portion of which is shown at 42 in Figure 1.

In order to insure that the pin or prong 34 remains,

4 in engagement with the eye or pull ring 19, which constitutes an integral extension of the upper curent carrying member 17, a rotary keeper 43 is employed WhlCh is mounted to swing about two axes that are at right angles to each other in order to permit entry of the pin or prong 34 into the eye or pull ring 19 and for holding the same in operative position therein.

The eye member or pull ring 28 includes the annular pull ring end cap 33 and is a relatively fixed conductlng member. The pull ring end cap 33 is cemented at 45 to the upper end of a tubular insulating housing 46 that preferably is formed of a phenolic condensation product. Carried by the pull ring end cap 33 is an upper contact socket 47 which is secured in position by a snap ring 48 and which is connected to an upper terminal 49 of a vacuum switch of known construction that is indicated, generally, at 50. For illustrative purposes it is pointed out that the vacuum switch 50' can be constructed generally as shown in Patent No. 2,740,869, issued April 3, 1956.

As pointed out, the vacuum switch 50 is of conventional construction. It includes a vacuumized glass envelope 51 which has a fixed contact 52 at the upper end and movable contact 53 in contact engagement therewith which is provided with a contact extension 54 that projects out of the lower end of the envelope 51. It will be understood that the contact 53 is urged into contact engagement with the contact 52 by atmospheric pressure and that a suitable flexible connection is pro- ,vided between the movable contact 53 and the glass envelope 51 to permit movement of the former relativeto the latter sufficient to separate the contact 53 from the contact 52 a distance such that, under the conditions of high vacuum, the circuit will be interrupted and the are will not be restruck.

Suitable provision is made for mounting the vacuum switch in the upper end of the tubular insulating housing 46. It will be observed that a lower support ring 55 is employed and that it bears against a shoulder 56 formed on the housing 46. The support ring 55 is cemented as indicated at 57 to the inner surface of the housing 46 above the shoulder 56. A spring washer 58 is interposed between the lower support ring 55 and the lower end of the vacuumized glass envelope 51. The upper end of the glass envelope 51 extends into the upper contact socket 47 and another spring washer 58 is provided therebetween so that good electrical contact is maintained between the upper contact socket 47 and the upper terminal 49. A filling 59 of sponge rubber surrounds the upper end of the glass envelope 51 and serves to protect it from shock. An insulating cap 60 overlies the upper end of the insulating housing 46, the pull ring end cap 33 and the upper contact socket 47. Elongated windows 61 are provided in the insulating housing 46 to permit inspection of the contacts 52 and 53 and to observe the are that is drawn when they separate under operating conditions.

The lower end of the contact extension 54 is provided with a threaded stud 64 and it is screwed into an upper ferrule 65 which is slidable in a guide ring 66 that bears against a shoulder 67 formed on the insulating housing 46. The guide ring 66 is cemented to the insulating housing 46 as indicated at 68. The upper ferrule 65 is threaded on the upper end of an elongated tubular guide member 69 which is provided at its lower end with a lower ferrule 70 that is threaded thereon. The lower ferrule 70 is slidably mounted in a guide ferrule 71 which is inserted in the lower end of the tubular insulating housing 46 and bears against a shoulder 72 therein. A snap ring 73 serves to hold the guide ferrule 71 in position at the lower end of the insulating housing 46.

Extending from the universal joint 36 and carried by the support member 35 which is mounted on the live line stick 42 is a conducting arm 76 which constitutes a movable conducting member that is arranged to be moved away from the relatively fixed conducting member provided by the eye member or pull ring 28 for effecting the operation of the vacuum switch 50 at a time when the upper current carrying member 17 on the upper end of the fuse tube 16 is moved through a predetermined distance away from the contact member 18. The connecting arm 76 is provided with a lateral extension 77 that projects through a vertical slot 78 in the insulating housing 46 and also through parallel vertical slots 79 in the elongated tubular guide member 69. Transversely extending guide pins 88 serve to insure proper movement of the extension 77 and conducting arm 76 relative to the guide member 69 and to the insulating housing 46. Also attached to the extension 77 of the connecting arm 76 is a contact assembly plunger 81 which is movable within the guide member 69. A screw 82 threaded into the lower end of the contact assembly plunger 81 serves to connect a flexible conductor 83 to it. The other end of the flexible conductor 83 is connected by a screw 84 to the underside of the upper ferrule 65. By means of the flexible conductor 83 a circuit is maintained between the extension 77 of the conducting arm 76 and the upper ferrule 65 as the extension 77 moves downwardly. Likewise the connection is maintained with the contact extension 54 and contact 53 of the vacuum switch 50. A coil compression spring 85 is interposed between the under side of the contact assembly plunger 81 and the upper side of the lower ferrule 70.

It is desirable to hold the tubular guide member 69 in the position shown in Figure 2 by a mechanical latch. For this purpose an opening 88, Figure 6, is provided near the lower end of the guide member 69 and it has a shoulder 89 at its upper portion that is arranged to be engaged by a shoulder 90 of a latch hook 91, as shown in Figure 4, where the guide member 69 is latched against downward movement. The latch hook 91 is pivoted at 92 on a support 93 which is carried by the guide ferrule 71 at the lower end of the insulating housing 46. A spring 94, Figure 5, reacts between the support 93 and the latch hook 91 to bias the latter to the latched position shown in Figure 4. Also secured to and movable with the latch hook 91 is an operating arm 95 the lower end 96 of which, as shown in Figure 5, is positioned in the path of downward movement of the extension 77 of the conducting arm 76. When the extension 77 is moved downwardly sufficiently far, it engages the lower end 96 of the operating arm 95 and moves thelatch hook 91 from the latched position shown in Figure 4 to the unlatched position shown in Figure 6. Then the coil spring 85, which has been further compressed by the downward movement of the extension 77, is released and it moves the lower ferrule 70 together with guide member 69 downwardly together with a corresponding downward movement of the contact extension 54 and movable contact 53. This operation takes place when the partsare in the relative positions shown in Figure 8- of the drawings. When the circuit opening operation has been completed, it is desirable to prevent the return of the extension 77 and conducting arm 76 to the closed position shown in Figure 2. For this purpose latch means 99 in the form of a plate of insulation is pivotally mounted at 100 on the universal joint 36. As described in Patent No. 2,816,981, issued December 17, 1957, the latch means 99 is biased toward the tubular insulating housing 46. When the parts are moved to the position shown in Figure 8, the upper end 181 of the latch means 99 moves into latching engagement with the under side of a latch stop ring 102 that surrounds and is cemented at 183 to the outer surface of the tubular insulating housing 46.

In operation the lineman manipulates the live link stick 42-first to position the bow shaped contact member 29.over oneof the horns or studs 24 as shown in Figure 1 of.thev drawings. Next he inserts the contact means 34 in the form of'a pin or prong carried by the'supp'ort member 35 into the eye or pull ring 19. During this operation the movable parts of the auxiliary circuit interrupter 27 remain as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings with the contacts 52 and 53 of the vacuum switch 50 in contact engagement to provide a shunt circuit between the eye member or pull ring 28 and the conducting arm 76. Next the lineman exerts a longitudinal pull downwardly on the live line stick 42. Since the contact means 34 is in engagement with the eye or pull ring 19 forming a part of the upper current carrying member 17 on the upper end of the fuse tube 16, the upper current carrying member 17 is caused to disengage the contact member 18 as the fuse tube 16 is swung about its pivot 14. This separation continues, as indicated in Figure 7', over the distance indicated at 106. At this time the circuit between the upper current carrying member 17 on the upper end of the fuse tube 16 and the contact member 18 is opened but they are shunted by the vacuum switch 50. However, when the contacts 52 and 53 of the vacu-' um switch open this shunt circuit, the upper current car-' rying member 17 has been moved sufficiently far away from the contact member 18 that there is no likelihood that the circuit will be established by arcing over therebetween. The operator continues to exert the downward pull on the live line stick 42 a further distance as indicated at 107 in Figure 8. At this time the extension 77 has been moved sufficiently far to engage the operating arm 95 and move the latch hook 91 from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 6. Also during the downward movement of the extension 77, the spring has been further compressed. As soon as the latch hook 91 is unlatched, the tubular guide member 69 no longer is restrained and it moves downwardly under the influence of the spring 85 to the extent indicated at 108 in Figure 8 of the drawings. This movement takes place against the force exerted by the atmosphere tending to hold the movable contact '53 in engagement with the fixed contact 52. Accordingly, the movable contact 53 moves away from the fixed contact 52 through the relatively short distance indicated at 109. Since the contacts 52 and 53 are separated in a high vacuum which is maintained within the vacuumized glass envelope 51, the shunt circuit is readily opened and any arc that is drawn is' quickly extinguished. Further, because of the relatively high vacuum there is no likelihood that the arc will be restruck under normal operating conditions between the contacts 52 and 53. It will be noted that there is a further distance, as indicated at 110, through which the extension 77 can be moved to effect the unlatching of the latch hook 91 and to cause latch means 99 to move into latching engagement with the underside of the latch stop ring 102. When this takes place, as shown in Figure 8, the guide member 69 and parts secured thereto are prevented from moving under the influence of the spring 85 upwardly and thus the distance 109 is maintained between the contacts 52 and 53. The operator now disengages the contact means 34 from the eye or pull ring 19 and thereafter moves the bow shaped contact member 29 out of engag'e ment with the horn or stud 24 by suitable manipulation of the live line stick 42. As soon as the eye or pull ring 19 is disengaged, the fuse tube 16 swings downwardly to the full open position.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings; it will be observed that it is generally similar to the construction previously described. An important difference in the construction of the auxiliary circuit interrupter 27 as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 is that the latch hook 91 for restraining outward movement of the elongated tubular guide member '69 and separation of the contacts 52 and 53 is omitted together with the associated parts. Instead provision is made for causing the final movement of the live line stick 42 to apply sufficient force to the connecting arm 76 and extension 77 thereof to overcome the force resulting from atmospheric pressure holding the movable contact 53 in engagement with the fixed contact 52 and to cause separation thereof. Insofar as possible the same reference characters are applied to the construction shown in Figures 9, and ll that were used in the preceding figures of the drawings.

At the lower end of the elongated tubular guide member 69 there is threaded an end cap 113. It will be noted that the lower end of the elongated tubular guide member 69 is slidable in an annular flange 114 that is formed integrally with a lower spring collar 115 which is telescoped within the lower end of the tubular insulating housing 46 and bears against an annular shoulder 116. The lower spring collar 115 is held in place by a snap ring 117. The upper side of the lower spring collar 115 has an annular groove 118 for receiving the lower end of a coil compression spring 119 which surrounds the elongated tubular guide member 69 and bears against the under side of an upper spring collar 120. The upper spring collar 120 is secured by screws 121 to the under side of the extension 77 from the conducting arm 76. It will be observed that the coil compression spring 119 adds to the force exerted by the atmosphere on the movable contact extension 54 and serves to hold the movable contact 53 in contact engagement with the fixed contact 52. Also this arrangement serves to hold the support member 35 in the retracted position shown in Figure 9 with the upper end adjacent the eye member or pull ring 28.

In order to open the circuit isolating device 10 using the circuit interrupter 27 constructed as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings, it is manipulated by the live line stick 42, in the manner previously described, to place the bow shaped contact member 29 over the horn or stud 24 after which the contact means 34 is inserted in the eye or pull ring 19. Then a downward pull is applied to the live line stick 42 and it is moved through the distance indicated at 124 in Figure 10 as a result of which the upper current carrying member 17 is separated from the contact member 18 and the current flow is shunted through the contacts 52 and 53 of the vacuum switch 50. During this movement the spring 119 is compressed and the latch means 99 is moved to a position overlying the latch stop ring 102.

The downward movement of the live line stick 42 continues to the extent indicated at 125 in Figure 11. The under side of the extension 77 of the conducting arm 76 engages the lower ends 126 of the vertical slot 79 in the elongated tubular guide member 69 and moves it downwardly together with the contact extension 54 and movable contact 53 through the extent indicated at 127 to separate the contact 53 from the fixed contact 52 and open the shunt circuit. This movement is indicated by a downward movement of the end cap 113 as indicated at 128. The latch means 99 then clears the latch stop ring 102 and the upper end 101 engages the under side thereof as shown in Figure 11 to prevent upward movement of the assembly under the influence of the coil compression spring 119 and reclosure of the contacts 52 and 53. Pro vision is made, as indicated at 129, for moving the extension 77 downwardly somewhat further than shown in Figure 11 in order to make certain that the upper end 101 of the latch means 99 clears to latch stop ring 102.

The operator now manipulates the live line stick 42 and disengages contact means 34 from the eye or pull ring 19. The fuse tube 16 then swings to the lowermost open position. Then the lineman further manipulates the live line stick 42 to remove the bow shaped contact member 29 from the horn or stud 24.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and s ope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having separable contacts connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member against the biasing force of said spring to a. predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for effecting separation of said separable contacts and thereby disconnection of said circuits.

2. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having separable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure, a guide member connected to said contact connected to said movable conducting member and movable therewith away from said fixed conducting member, means cooperating with said guide member to direct its movement along a predetermined path, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member to a predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for effecting separation of said separable contacts and thereby disconnection of said circuits.

3. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member against the biasing force of said spring to a predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for effecting separation of said movable contact from said fixed contact to disconnect said circuits.

4. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part and to move a relatively great distance away from said fixed conducting member, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure and movable apart a relatively short distance, a guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith away from said fixed contact, means cooperating with said guide member to direct its movement along a predetermined path, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member through said relatively great distance against the biasing force of said spring to a predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for efiec'ting separation of said movable contact from said fixed contact through said relatively short distance and thereby disconnection of said circuits.

5. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure, an elongated guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith away from said fixed contact, said movable conducting member being guided by and movable relative to said guide member, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member to a .predetermined position away from said fixed conducting member for effecting movement of said guide member and thereby separation of said movable contact from said fixed contact to disconnect saidcircuits.

6. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of alive line stick comprising in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure an elongated guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith away from said fixed contact, said movable conducting member-being guided by and movable relative to said guide member, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, means responsive to movement of said relatively-movable conducting memberto a predetermined position away from said fixed conducting-member for etfecting movement of said guide-member andthereby separation of said movable contact from said fixed contact to disconnect saidcircuits and further stress said spring, and latch means cooperating with said movable conducting member to hold it in'said predetermined position against the further stress of said spring.

7. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick'comprisingin combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized .part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live linestick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable-contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively-to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmosphericpressure, an elongated guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith away from said fixed contact, said movable conducting member being guided by and movable relative to said guide member, a spring interposed between said movable conducting member and said guide member for biasing the latter away from said movable conducting member, a latch restraining movement of said guide member and said movable contact, and an operatmg arm connected to said latch and operated in response to movement of said movable conducting member to a predetermined position away from said fixed conducting member for releasing said latch to permit said spring to overcome the force exerted by atmospheric pressure and move said guide member and thereby said movable contact away from said fixed contact to disconnect said circuits.

8. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part and to move a relatively great distance away from said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure and movable apart a relatively short distance, an elongated guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith through said relatively short distance away from said fixed contact, said movable conducting member being guided by and movable through said relatively great distance relative to said guide member, a spring interposed between said movable conducting member and said guide member for biasing the latter away from said movable conducting member, a latch restraining movement of said guide member and said movable contact, and an operating arm connected to said latch and operated in response to movement of said movable conducting member through said relatively great distance to a predetermined position away from said fixed conducting member for releasing said latch to permit said spring to overcome the force exerted by atmospheric pressure and move said guide member and thereby said movable contact away from said fixed contact through said relatively short distance to disconnect said circuits.

9. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having separable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure, and lost motion connecting means between said separable contacts and said movable conducting member whereby said movable conducting member can move away from said relatively fixed conducting member through a substantial distance andthen further movement of said movable conducting member in the same direction overcomes the force of atmospheric pressure on said contacts to separate them and disconnect said circuits.

l0. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of-a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an-energized part of said circuit anda relatively movable conducting member adapted'tobe carried bysaid'live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having separable contacts in a vacuumized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure, lost motion connecting means between said separable contacts and said movable conducting member whereby said movable conducting member can move away from said relatively fixed conducting member against the biasing force of said spring through a substantial distance and then further movement of said movable conducting member in the same direction overcomes the force of atmospheric pressure on said contacts to separate them and disconnect said circuits, and latch means cooperating with said movable conducting member to hold said contacts open.

ll. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having separable contacts in a vacuurnized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by atmospheric pressure, means responsive to movement of saidrelatively movable conducting member against the biasing force of said spring to a predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for overcoming the force of atmospheric pressure and by continued movement thereof opening said separable contacts to disconnect said circuits, and latch means cooperating with said movable conducting member to hold it in said predetermined position against the force of said spring and said contacts open against atmospheric pressure.

12. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part and to move a relatively great distance away from said fixed conducting member, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuurnized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by said spring and by atmospheric pressure and movable apart a relatively short distance, and an elongated guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith through said relatively short distance away from said fixed contact, said movable conducting member being guided by and movable through substantially all of said relatively great distance relative to said guide member with the final movement taking place conjointly therewith to move said movable contact away from said fixedcontact through said relatively short distance against the forces exerted by atmospheric pressure and said spring. and disconnect said circuits.

13. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by said live line 'stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part and to move a relatively great distance away from said fixed conducting member, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having relatively fixed and movable contacts in a vacuurnized envelope connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members and biased into contact engagement by said spring and by atmospheric pressure and movable apart a relatively short distance, an elongated guide member connected to said movable contact and movable therewith through said relatively short distance away from said fixed contact, said movable conducting member being guided by and movable through substantially all of said relatively great distance relative to said guide member with the final movement taking place conjointly therewith to move said movable contact away from said fixed contact through said relatively short distance against the forces exerted by atmospheric pressure and said spring and disconnect said circuits, and latch means cooperating with said movable conducting member to hold said contacts open against the forces exerted by atmospheric pressure and said spring.

14. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by a live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a spring biasing said movable conducting member toward said fixed conducting member, there being an air gap external to said circuit interrupter between said conducting members when said circuit is opened thereby, a vacuum switch in said circuit interrupter having separable contacts connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members, there being a gap inside said vacuum switch between said contacts when they are separated in parallel circuit relation with said ex ternal air gap, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member against the biasing force of said spring to a predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for effecting separation of said contacts to provide said parallel relation between said gaps and disconnection of said circuits.

15. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit by manipulation of a live line stick comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter including a tubular insulating housing having a relative fixed conducting member at its upper end for connection to an energized part of said circuit and a relatively movable conducting member at its lower end adapted to be carried by a live line stick and to be connected to a circuit to be disconnected from said energized part, a vacuum switch in said upper end of said tubular insulating housing having separable con tacts connected respectively to said relatively fixed and movable conducting members, a guide member connected to said contact connected to said movable conducting member and movable therewith away from said fixed conducting member, means cooperating with said guide member to direct its movement along a predetermined path, and means responsive to movement of said relatively movable conducting member to a predetermined position away from said relatively fixed conducting member for effecting separation of said separable contacts and thereby disconnection of said circuits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,480,622 Warnock Aug. 30, 1949 2,773,154 Williams Dec. 4, 1956 2,816,978 Lindell Dec. 17, 1957 2,838,636 Schwager June 10, 1958 

